Author's note

[redwinter101]

Author's note: The Divine Office

This one needs a little explanation and I don't want to bore everyone at the beginning of each story, hence the separate note.

This is a collection of eight stories themed around times of day as signified by the observances collectively known as The Divine Office. Each "office" takes place at a particular time of day and, at one time, was a way for Christians to mark time and a specific devotion or prayer. I should point out straight away that these are not religious stories; I'm just using the theme of specific hours to tell specific stories.

Each story will be related to one of the offices, but that is their only connection to each other.

The hours of the Divine Office, which form the titles of the stories are:

Vigil (midnight)
Lauds (dawn)
Prime (6am)
Terce (9am)
Sext (noon)
None (3pm)
Vespers (dusk)
Compline (9pm)

There will be different characters, different time periods, different forms. There will be some Mick/Cora, some Mick/Beth, a new Giuseppe story, another "Homecoming" story, even a Guillermo story. I'm hoping it will create a picture of a very untypical 24-hour cycle in the Moonlight universe.

I have no idea if that will work, but, we shall see.

The first story, "Vigil", is posted here: Vigil
The second story, "Lauds", is posted here: Lauds
The third story, "Prime", is posted here: Prime
The fourth story, "Terce", is posted here: Terce
The fifth story, "Sext", is posted here: Sext
The sixth story, "None", is posted here: None
The seventh story is actually two stories; "Vespers" (1) is posted here: Vespers (1) and "Vespers" (2) is posted here: Vespers (2)
The eighth and final story, "Compline", is posted here: Compline

[francis]

I love the idea. I'm a religious person and love to take part in some of these hours when I get the chance. What I love most is that in the old orders (Benedictine for example) they used them to tell time. Like in the Cadfael books.
Looking forward to reading these stories.

[redwinter101]

Oh, francis!! It was Cadfael that prompted the idea! A special for you.

Red

[wpgrace]

Which reminds me I need to get those books to read...

But like francis... verrrrry excited to hear about the new writing project... and like francis, LOVE the concept. And the first story... really love that story.

[redwinter101]

Which reminds me I need to get those books to read...

Sounds like a New Year's resolution to me.

Red

[wollstonecraft61]

Oh, I love the Cadfael stories. I am just now getting into this series, but if it is anything like your other work, Red, it will be powerful and poetically written.

[allegrita]

I was wondering if the Brother Cadfael stories had inspired these stories. I love them; especially, I love the fact that he is a man of the world who has willingly joined the cloister. When he celebrates the offices, he knows what he's celebrating; he chose that life.

[LadyAilith]

Have you ever seen the Brother Cadfael series? It's quite good. Derek Jacobi is Cadfael - he does *such* a splendid job! I highly recommend them. Unfortunately, I believe that there are only 13 episodes. It was on PBS years ago.

LadyAilith

[redwinter101]

Have you ever seen the Brother Cadfael series? It's quite good. Derek Jacobi is Cadfael - he does *such* a splendid job! I highly recommend them. Unfortunately, I believe that there are only 13 episodes. It was on PBS years ago.

LadyAilith

I have seen them. Much as I loved Derek Jacobi, I confess I preferred the books - but I think that's usually the case when you've read them first (and loved them).

Red

[redwinter101]

There will be different characters, different time periods, different forms. There will be some Mick/Cora, some Mick/Beth, a new Giuseppe story, another "Homecoming" story, even a Guillermo story. I'm hoping it will create a picture of a very untypical 24-hour cycle in the Moonlight universe.

I have no idea if that will work, but, we shall see.

So, now I've reached the end, and written the stories I intended to write. Overall I hope this picture of a day in the Moonlight universe, with its infinite variety, has been as fun for you as it has for me. It was a new type of series for me and it really has been both a challenge and a joy to work on. Thank you all for reading.

Red